Rotary brush



Nov. 20, 1923 1,475,079

F; W. MILLER ROTARY BRUSH Filed June 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fmi WITNESSES M CC? I, ATTORNEY F. W. MILLER Nov, 20, 1923 ROTARY BRUSH Filed June 8, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Fred WZZZL'QDLJWWF ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 20, 1923.

UNHTEE @TATES FRED WILLIAM MILLER, OF BEATRICE, NEBRASKA.

ROTARY BRUSH.

Application filed June 8, 1920. Serial No. 387,283.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Fnnn VViLLIAM MIL- Lnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beatrice, in the county of Gage and State of Nebraska, have invented a new anduseful Rotary Brush, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rotary fountain brushes.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a brush of the type set forth having means whereby the flow of the water to the brush may be diverted without affecting the rotation of the brush.

Another object is to provide a turbinedriven brush having a housing for the turbine so constructed that the turbine revolves in what practically amounts to an air chamber, so that little resistance to the rotation is encountered.

Another object is to provide a brush of the class described whose turbine revolves in an air chamber almost regardless of the position in which the implement is held.

Another object is to provide means for causing the water to descend quickly to the casing without swirling around within the turbine housing.

Other objects are to provide a rotary brush whose rotation is aided by means provided in the brush casing at the end of the nozzle, whose gearing is out of contact with the water, and whose construction generally is superior to the usual types of rotary brushes.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding. however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing in the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as ex pressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings 1-- Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a rotary fountain brush embodying some of the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the brush casing, the bristles of the brush being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 1, also omitting the bristles.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5, a part of the turbine casing being broken away to show the interior construction.

F igure 7 is a cross section to show the vane at the outer end of the brush casing.

In the drawings 10 designates the turbine housing, which housing comprises a fiat top, a cylindrical side wall, and a bottom 11. The bottom 11 extends at an angle with respect to the top of the housmg so that one side of the housing has a height but little greater than the width of the blades of the turbine to be described, while the other side of the casing has a height considerably larger. An inlet pipe 13 has a contracted discharge end 14 opening into the interior of the turbine housing so that a jet of water is directed upon the turbine wheel. The opposite end of the pipe 13 has a suitable coupling 15, whereby a hose or the like may conduct a supply of Water to the brush.

Rising from the bottom 11 of the housing centrally thereof is a collar 16 providing a bearing for a shaft 17. Upon the upper end of the shaft, a turbine wheel is mounted, the blades 18 of which may be of any desired number and assume any well known form. The lower end of the shaft 17 has, in the embodiment of Fi l, a bevel pinion 19 secured thereto meshing with the bevel gear 20 for driving the brush shaft 21.

The bottom of the turbine housing hasa discharge port or outlet 12 near that side having the greatest height or depth, which outlet leads to a bisectional casing, the section 23 leading directly downwardly from the bottom of the turbine housing and the section 26 being disposed at right angles to the first-named section. These two sections may be in one piece or may be made detachable, if desired. In the section 23 a bypass 25 (see Fig. 2) is provided, and a manually operable valve 24 controls the flow of water out through the bypass. A hose or the like should preferably be connected to the bypass 25 so that when desired the water discharged from the turbine housing may be conducted away without reaching the brush.

The casing carries a bearing 22 for the brush driving shaft 21, and this shaft extends longitudinally and centrally .of the casing section 26. This latter section is preferably frusto-conical in form, tapering to a relatively wide nozzle at the outer end and there provided with a bearing 22' for supporting the outer end of the rod 21. The extremity of the rod 21 extends beyond the nozzle end and there carries a brush casing 27 preferably in a detachable manner. The brush casing is preferably frusto-conical in form and provided with a large number of perforations 28, some of the perforations being provided at the smaller end of the brush casing, as seen in Fig. 3, and others of these perforations being rovided along the sides. The rear wall 30 of the brush casing has no erforations, so that the water is discharged in the form of a spray only forwardly and sidewise of the brush.

As shown in the drawings, Fig. 1, a bristle brush is used, but instead of the bristles 29, a sponge or cotton mop may be secured upon the brush casing, or different types of brushes may be provided with the implement and may be made interchangeable.

In Fig. 5, the preferred form of the invention is shown wherein the turbine shaft 17 carries a worm 33 at its lower end, meshing with a worm gear 34 on the shaft 21, the gearing being enclosed within a casing 31 which should be water-tight. A removable cap 32 is provided whereby the gears in the casing may be lubricated A metal support 9 has casing 31 connected thereto, and said support has cast integral therewith collar 16, hearing 22 for brush shaft 21, and step bearirig 22 for the lower end of the drive shaft 1 k The bottom of the housing has an outlet 12, one edge of which has a blade 35 rising above the bottom 11 at an acute angle thereto, as shown in Fig. 6, and acting to divert the water which tends to swirl around inside of the housin down into the casing section 36 below. (stherwise the water after it strikes the turbine wheel would jump across the opening 12*. One wall .of the casing Section 36 is extended down into the casing section 26 so as to restrict the opening in the latter casing. This extension wall is indicated at 37 and its function is to permit the implement to be tilted upwardly without danger of the air chamber becoming filled with water. In other words, the water level 1 practically all of the water will find its way out through the port 38, while still rotating the brush. By this arrangement of the discharge port, no discharge hoselis necessary as the location of the port 38 is sufiiciently removed from the operator so he will not get wet. The brush casing, in the construction of Fig. 5, is like the previously described brush casin except that a vane 42 is socured at the ischarge end of the brush casing inside of the same. The full force of the water flowing out of the nozzle end of the casing 26 is directed against the vane 42, which thus'aids in the rotation of the brush.

The device of the present invention is particularly adapted for use in washing automobiles, but I do not wish to limit the invention to any particular use.

In the position of the brush, with the brush end uppermost, the water after striking the turbine wheel accumulates in the bottom of the chamber formed by the parts 36, 26 and 9, the water line varyin slightly with the inclination of the brush. bove the water line, the turbine housing would be filled with air, and the turbine wheel is therefore revolved in air, which offers much less resistance than if it were filled with water. When the brush is held in a downwardl inclined osition, the water simply flows by gravity but the air chamber is still a factor., The means by which the water flow is diverted from the brush is of value when it is desired to put soap upon the may be rubbed over the article which is being washed, and after the soap has been completely brushed over the surface of the. article, the water may be again sprayed through the brush.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a water turbine wheel, a housing for the same comprising a cylindrical side wall, a horizontal top, and a bottom disposed at an acute angle to the top and connected with the side wall, whereby the height of the housing is reater at one side than the other, a waterinlet connected to that part of the housing of least height, an outlet connection with the bottom at the side where the height of the housing is greatest, a casing connected to and in communication with the housing andacpmprising two adjoining sections at right angles to each other, the outer wall of the section nearest the housing having a depending extension entering the top of the passage of the other section, a brush shaft mounted in said other section, and gearing connecting the turbine wheelto said shaft.

2. The combination of a water turbine wheel, a housing for the same comprisino a cylindrical side wall, a horizontal top, an a bottom disposed at an acute angle to the top and connected to the side wall, whereby the height of the housing is greater at one side than the other, a water inlet connection with that part of the housing of least height, an outlet provided in the bottom of the housing at the side of greatest height, a blade rising from the bottom at an acute angle and located at one side of the outlet for directing the water to the same, a casing connected to the housing and into which the water discharges from the outlet, a brush shaft in said casing, and gearing between the shaft and said turbine wheel.

3. The combination with a water turbine wheel, a housing for the same comprisin a cylindrical side wall, a horizontal top, an a bottom disposed'at an acute an le to the top, whereby the height of the housing varies from one side to the other, a water inlet connection with the side of the housing of least height, an outlet in the bottom of the housing where it is of the greatest height, a casing depending from the housing and into which the water is discharged from said outlet, another casing arranged at right angles to the first-mentioned casing, a brush shaft mounted in the second-mentloned casing, gearing between the inner end of the shaft and the turbine wheel, an opening in the bottom wall of the second-mentioned casing at an intermediate point of the length thereof, and a stopper for closing said open ing at will. v

4. A rotary brush comprising a water turbine, a housing for the same, said housing comprising a cylindrical side wall, a horizontal top and a bottom disposed at an acute angle to the top wherebythe height ofthe housing varies from a minimum but little greater than the width of the turbine blades to a maximum on the diametrically opposite side of the housing, a water connection having an inlet in that part of the housing of least height, an outlet of relatively large area in the bottom of the casing and on the opposite side from the inlet, a fountain brush carried by a casing joined to the housing, and means for mechanically connecting the turbine with the brush to' effect rotation of the brush.

5. A rotary brush comprising avwaterv air chamber, a casing connected to the housing, said casing including two adjoining sections at right angles to each other, the

wall of the section adjacent the housing having an extension entering the passage- -way in the other section, a fountain brush rotatably mounted on the last-named section of the casing, and means whereby the turbine may revolve the brush.

6. A rotary brush comprising a water turbine, a housin for the same so shaped as to permit revolving of the turbine in an air chamber, a casing connected to the housing, a discharge port or outlet in the housing leading to the casing, a blade rising above the discharge port at an acute angle to the housing bottom for directing the water down through said port into the casing, a fountain brush rotatably mounted on the casing, and means whereby the turbine may revolve the brush.

7. A rotary brush comprising a water turbine, a housing for the-same so shaped as to permit revolving of the turbine in an air chamber, a casing connected to the housing, said casing including two adjoining sections at right angles to each other, the wall of the section adjacent the housing having an extension entering the passageway in the other section, a discharge port or outlet in the housing bottom leading to the casing, a blade at an acute angle to the housing bottom and rising above the discharge port along one edge thereof to direct water down through said port into the casing, a fountain brush rotatably mountedon the second mentioned section of the casing, and means whereby the turbine may revolve the brush.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my si nature.

FRED WILLIAM MIL E13. 

